Homeowners say rezoning battle not over

TIPPECANOE COUNTY, Ind. (WLFI) - The sign along County Road 300 North in Tippecanoe County remains as a request for re-zoning is still in the works.

Milestone Contractors recently decided to hold-off on moving its asphalt plant and recycling facility to the site. Vice President of Milestone's Lafayette location Jim Gross said that's because neighboring IMI Irving Materials, Inc. allowed them to purchase land.

"IMI was able to re-think their plans for the property and allow us to buy some additional property so we could stay where we were at," said Gross.

Gross said Milestone is still considering whether or not to move its office and shop from its location along Veteran's Memorial Parkway. The company is still requesting the land be zoned I-2.

"The I-2 is for some lighter industrial zoning for some smaller type, business type lots, similar to Roadworks and some of the other businesses that are out there. It is what we were looking at for the front half of the property," said Gross.

Homeowners said they're still not satisfied.

"We still say no to that because it's still heavy industry. It's the worst kind of re-zone that you could have in a very highly populated residential area," said homeowner Sharon Mariga.

Homeowner Sally Mohler and others are starting a non-profit organization to fight the re-zoning along County Road 300 North.

"We do not want any industrial development out here. One of the purposes of this not-for-profit organization is we are going to have an organization in place to fight if anybody else tries to introduce any industrial plans out here. We will be ready," said Mohler.

Mohler said she has already collected about 500 signatures from homeowners who said they are "fed up with this issue."

"And we are securing legal representation and we are following up on this," said Mohler.